Dat Drink and Dem Boys

Rusty Nail, Pimm's Cup, and Sazerac

Life is funny, ain't it? In my last post I said that I would be writing about food, music, and "to a lesser extent booze." Well, just this past Sunday evening I found myself at the The Rusty Nail Bar in the warehouse district, and after a few libations were quaffed, it was quickly decided that it was "Classic Cocktail Sunday." I knew that I had to have a Sazerac, and I knew I had to write about it. It was my first of the Famous Cocktail, and I can honestly say, it'll probably be my last. It's literally Herbsaint, Rye Whiskey, and Bitters. While it may be the official drink of New Orleans, as proclaimed by the Louisiana government no less, it ain't my official drink. So I had to move on, I had a Pimm's Cup, a step down from the manly burn of Sazerac, and it was delicious. Finally, if you ever go to the Rusty Nail, order a bacon-infused old fashioned. It's an old-fashioned using bacon-infused bourbon and maple syrup instead of simple syrup. I'm pretty sure it's the breakfast of the highest choir of angels. I am completely in love with this particular cocktail, and if you go there, you might just catch me at the bar, sipping on bacon whiskey.

Drinking, like so many things in New Orleans, is infused with and somehow a bigger part of the Spirit of New Orleans. One highly visible aspect of this Spirit, is the Saints. To understand a bit about the Saints you really have to understand and feel the resurrection story of the Superdome. During Katrina, the Superdome was a mismanaged hellhole, that I can't even begin to explain or understand. But in the wake of the storm, in the rebirth, the Superdome rose once again. On September 25, 2006 the Dome reopened to an electric crowd. U2 and Green Day played, backed by Trombone Shorty, New Birth, and Rebirth. The Saints played a hell of a game, beating the Atlanta Falcons 25-3. On only the fourth play of the game, Steve Gleason blocked a punt causing the ball to roll into the Atlanta End Zone, where Curtis Deloatch epically dived upon the ball for the Saints first touchdown. Having been to a few games myself, I can only image the Who Dat was out of control for a hot minute. 

Drew, launching a pass at training camp.

So, if you haven't figured it out, the Saints are a big freakin' deal to us down here. They are the Resurrection Story of the Crescent City told in the Cathedral of the Dome, starring Breesus, King of the Drews! I might be getting a little hyperbolic, but if so - barely. The Saints are bigger than themselves and are connected to the city in a way that is deep and real. So this morning I went to watch the Saints practice at their training facility in Metairie, LA. You get to sit on metal bleachers - like at a high school soccer game, not comfortable, but within spittin' distance. We mostly watched drills, getting to watch both Drew Brees and Chase Daniels throw a hell of a lot of footballs. And Sproles seems even smaller, and if you can believe this, faster in real life than on TV, or even from a seat in the Dome. He's damn quick, and Jimmy Graham was lookin' great too. As my buddy Alex and I were walking out into the parking lot we saw a man and his young daughter rushing towards the training facility. "Are they still going to sign stuff after the practice?" He asked.

"Yep, they're practicing for another 45, and then they'll sign stuff for 10 or 20 minutes," my buddy Alex answered.

"Oh thank God, we drove here all the way from Houston," the stranger said as he rushed away with his daughter. Who Dat! INDEED, Sir. 


I'm so excited for football to start it's sort of ridiculous. I mean, y'know baseball isn't bad. All of the fun of football packed into 162 4-hour games... I hate baseball. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm not sorry. And I can't wait to write about how the Saints are going to be the first team to ever win the Super Bowl on their own field without their head coach. WHO DAT SAY DEY GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS?!?!


Yeah You Right, Joe.